Compare towns
Brookfield vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Cheshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Cheshire has the most people working from home (19.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brookfield | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Cheshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,706 |
15,141 |
12,579Lowest |
29,040Highest |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8 8% above CT |
37±4.5Lowest 10% below CT |
41.4±2.6 about the CT average |
44.9±1.4Highest 9% above CT |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest CT: 20.2% |
19.4%±2.6 CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
21.9%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
| Brookfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.8 CT: 18.5% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.2%±2.7 CT: 18.5% |
21.3%±1.8Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Cheshire and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3% CT: 42.5% |
15%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
28.6% CT: 42.5% |
60.7%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.6%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.9%±1.8Highest CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±1.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,360±$11kHighest 55% above CT |
$76,993±$8kLowest 20% below CT |
$81,205±$13k 15% below CT |
$146,528±$12k 53% above CT |
| Brookfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $479,700±$24kHighest 31% above CT |
$272,100±$16k 26% below CT |
$258,800±$14kLowest 29% below CT |
$440,000±$17k 20% above CT |
| Brookfield and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,892±$183Highest 27% above CT |
$1,204±$70Lowest 19% below CT |
$1,394±$187 6% below CT |
$1,398±$116 6% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,594 14% above CT |
$4,209 37% below CT |
$3,688Lowest 44% below CT |
$7,755Highest 17% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.9%±13.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±9.5 CT: 52.6% |
58.2%±16.8Highest CT: 52.6% |
44.9%±6.3 CT: 52.6% |
| Windsor Locks and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
8.7% CT: 10% |
10.9%Highest CT: 10% |
5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% CT: 66.5% |
73.6%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
77.1% CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 11 yrs newer than CT |
1971 4 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1974 7 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 17% below CT |
29 minHighest 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 16.3%±3 CT: 16% |
10%±4Lowest CT: 16% |
17.7%±3.7 CT: 16% |
19.1%±2.7Highest CT: 16% |
| Cheshire and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #18 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Brookfield School District | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Cheshire School District |
| High school in town | Brookfield High School | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Cheshire High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.